THE PORT AUTHORITY OF NY & NJ

Press Release Article

THE PORT AUTHORITY BUS TERMINAL GETS INTO THE SPIRIT

The Port Authority Bus Terminal’s three-month-old Greenmarket expanded today with the addition of a local New York State winery.

The weekly Thursday market, the only year-round market in the area, has become a popular indoor location to purchase farm-fresh items for daily commuters, community residents and businesses since it opened in June.

To celebrate the Greenmarket’s success and the addition of Suhru Wines, the Port Authority held an expo with several local community organizations - including the Council on the Environment, Fashion Center BID, Times Square Alliance, Transportation Alternatives, and Design-To-Go pop-up shop - to highlight how individuals can do their part for the environment and the community.

Walking through the expo, passersby and commuters could taste, plan, and purchase all the ingredients needed for a healthy meal; watch a demonstration of the latest in collapsible bikes; see how a parking space can be creatively used; test a blender powered by a peddling bike; witness how recyclables can be reused; and get involved with local organizations.

Port Authority Chairman Anthony R. Coscia said, “The Port Authority has been at the forefront of promoting environmental initiatives at its transportation facilities. This is another way we can promote a greener lifestyle and make a positive impact on the region.”

Port Authority Executive Director Chris Ward said, “The Port Authority Bus Terminal is much more than a transportation facility that moves more than 200,000 daily commuters. It’s a neighborhood icon, and we’re constantly looking for new and innovative ways it can benefit the traveling public and those who live in the neighborhood.”

Port Authority Deputy Executive Director Susan Bass Levin said, “The neighborhood surrounding the Port Authority Bus Terminal is constantly changing and growing with the times. We are pleased that in just three short months, the Greenmarket has agreed to expand to meet the growing demand.”

“Council on the Environment of New York City is excited about the addition of a New York State winery at the Port Authority Bus Terminal Greenmarket,” said Marcel van ooyen, executive director of the Council on the Environment. “As our mission is to provide New Yorkers and our neighbors with the diverse array of locally produced agriculture products while supporting regional farmers, expanding the product availability to hundreds of thousands of riders furthers that goal. We deeply value our partnership with the Port Authority and look forward to establishing new market locations in the future.”

“This event is a wonderful expression of green and healthy living,” said Barbara Randall, president of the Fashion Center BID. “We're happy to be partnering with the Port Authority on creative events such as this and others like our 5th Annual Kite Flight being held this weekend and our Blank SL8 store space, which promote the vibrant Eighth Avenue corridor.”

“There is no question that creating more opportunities to be green in Times Square is part of our agenda,” said Times Square Alliance President Tim Tompkins. “We are excited to have Design-To-Go be part of this event and thank the Port Authority for being proactive in educating the community and making this much sought-after greenmarket available to the visitors and residents of Times Square.”

“We’re glad to be part of greening the Port Authority Bus Terminal from the inside out,” says Paul Steely White, Executive Director of Transportation Alternatives. “What better audience is there to promote sustainable streets than the thousands of PA bus riders who already make a green commute every day?”

“AREAWARE has always tried to promote new ideas and organic materials that enable a more considered and sustainable approach to the things in our lives. We believe the objects and practices that we bring into our homes should be meaningful and smart so as to have high attachment value as opposed to disposable items that crowd our landfills. Our hope is that the community will find the assortment at Design-To-Go, as well as the Strida folding bike, to be helpful in creating a fun, greener lifestyle,” said Noel Wiggins, President of Areaware.

CONTACT: The Port Authority of New York and New JerseyJen Friedberg, 212 435-7777The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey operates many of the busiest and most important transportation links in the region. They include John F. Kennedy International, Newark Liberty International, LaGuardia, Stewart International and Teterboro airports; AirTrain JFK and AirTrain Newark; the George Washington Bridge and Bus Station; the Lincoln and Holland tunnels; the three bridges between Staten Island and New Jersey; the PATH (Port Authority Trans-Hudson) rapid-transit system; Port Newark; the Elizabeth-Port Authority Marine Terminal; the Howland Hook Marine Terminal on Staten Island; the Port Authority Auto Marine Terminal; the Brooklyn Piers/Red Hook Container Terminal; and the Port Authority Bus Terminal in midtown Manhattan. The agency also owns the 16-acre World Trade Center site in Lower Manhattan and is a partner in the Access to the Region’s Core tunnel project.